Adhesive tape for adhering inserts to a page of a magazine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an adhesive tape for laminating a first substrate to a second substrate, wherein the adhesive tape includes a carrier having on a first major surface a first adhesive layer and having on a second major surface opposite to the first major surface in the order given a non-tacky polymer layer and a second adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive tape is capable of being adhered to the first substrate by the first adhesive layer and to the second substrate by the second adhesive layer. The adhesive tape is capable of delamination between the carrier and the non-tacky polymer layer when the first and second substrate are peeled away from each other so as to leave the carrier on the first substrate and the non-tacky polymer layer on the second substrate with a major surface of the non-tacky polymer layer or the carrier. The non-tacky polymer layer and carrier are not co-extruded layers. 
     The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing the adhesive tape and the use of the adhesive tape for placing inserts in a multi-page publication.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an adhesive tape that can be used toreleasably adhere an insert to a page of a multi-page publication suchas a newspaper or a magazine in such a way that when the insert isremoved from the page of the printed publication, the surfaces of boththe page and the insert are not tacky and the page does not get damagedby removing the insert.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inserts such as product samples and mail back cards are frequentlyinserted in newspapers or magazines. Such inserts can be inserted in amagazine by permanently adhering them to a page of the multi-pageprinted publication. However, this has the disadvantage that uponremoving the insert from the multi-page printed publication, the page towhich it was adhered may get damaged. It is also known to adhere theinsert to a page of a magazine or newspaper by means of a repositionableadhesive. While this method does not create damage to the page to whichthe insert was adhered, either the page or the insert will containadhesive and one of them will remain tacky.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,985 describes that it is known to coat aface stock with a release material and this is then laminated, with therelease coated side down, to a paper base which has been coated on bothsides with pressure sensitive adhesive. The outer adhesive layer is thenused to adhere the face stock to a substrate. Due to the releasematerial, the face stock can be peeled away from the adhesive layer ofthe paper base and thus the face stock can be separated from thesubstrate. However, the substrate remaining will be tacky due to theadhesive remaining thereon. Accordingly, this type of construction isnot suitable for placing inserts in a magazine or printed publication.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,985 attempts to solve this problem by providing aself-detackifying adhesive laminated construction. The laminatedconstruction is produced by coating a film of a non-silicone containingpolymer onto one side of a face stock and then laminating thisconstruction to an adhesive which has been coated on a release liner.The polymer film and adhesive have differential release capabilitiessuch that the polymer film will initially adhere to the face stock andthe adhesive layer on the other side thereof, but upon delamination, thepolymer film will have greater affinity for the adhesive layer.Accordingly, when the face stock is peeled away, the polymer film willdelaminate therefrom and remain permanently affixed to the adhesivecoating. This results in a non-tacky surface remaining because theremaining adhesive coating is covered by a non-tacky polymer. Also, theface stock will not be tacky.

While, the above method may be effective in placing inserts inmagazines, it suffers from several disadvantages. Firstly, the methodrequires that the insert be coated on one side with a polymer film. Thisis not very practical in many instances. For example if the insertconcerns a mail back card that is printed on one or both sides, afterprinting, the printer might have to send the mail back card to aspecialised service for coating the mail back card and laminating it tothe release liner with adhesive, because often printers do not have thenecessary equipment. This makes the process cumbersome and costly.Moreover, in producing magazines, printers are often under serious timeconstraints which do not allow for the insert to be send to aspecialised service to coat and laminate the insert. Also, depending onthe kind of surface of the insert, for example paper or plastic,different polymer film coatings will be needed due to the requireddifferential release capabilities.

EP 414 538 discloses a card that is adapted for removable attachment toa surface. The card comprises a card sheet having two opposite sides anda laminated sheet bonded to one side of the card sheet. The laminatedsheet includes a plurality of overlying layers that are adapted toseparate along an interface between two layers of thin film. Theinterface comprises a layer of adhesive. Accordingly, when the cardsheet is removed by delamination at the interface, at least one of theremaining surfaces will contain the adhesive.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,638 discloses a sticking material for preventingresticking. The material has an adhesive layer, a second layer laminatedon one main surface of the adhesive layer, a peeling agent layerlaminated on the second layer and a first layer laminated on the peelingagent layer. The equation, a<b is satisfied, wherein the force requiredto separate the first layer from the second layer at the peeling agentlayer is denoted as a, and the adhesive force of the adhesive layer withthe surface of the second layer is represented by b. Since the secondand first layers are adhered temporarily via the peeling agent layer,the first layer once separated from the second layer, cannot be restuck.While this material is useful for labels such as price tags, thematerial is however not suitable for placing inserts in a multi-pageprinted publication.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,714 discloses a co-extruded core laminate ofpolypropylene and polyethylene which has been provided on both sideswith an adhesive layer. According to the teaching of this patent, suchan adhesive tape can be used to adhere coupons, cards, tags or othercut-to-shape face pieces on substrates such as containers, wrappings andpackages. The face piece can subsequently be peeled off in such a waythat both the bottom of the face piece and top of the substrate arenon-tacky. This is accomplished by delamination that occurs between theco-extruded layers. Such an adhesive tape however has the disadvantagethat the bottom of the face piece and top of the substrate are notwritable. Further, the composition of the co-extruded layers of the corelaminate are limited in composition and cannot for example containthermo-sensitive materials and components that degrade at thetemperatures needed in an extrusion process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an adhesive tape (10,20) for laminating afirst substrate (31) to a second substrate (32), said adhesive tapecomprising a carrier (13) having on a first major surface a firstadhesive layer (12) and having on a second major surface opposite tosaid first major surface in the order given a non-tacky polymer layer(14) and a second adhesive layer (15), wherein said adhesive tape(10,20) is capable of being adhered to said first substrate (31) by saidfirst adhesive layer (12) and to said second substrate (32) by saidsecond adhesive layer (15), and said adhesive tape (10,20) being capableof delamination between said carrier (13) and said non-tacky polymerlayer (14) when said first (31) and second substrate (32) are peeledaway from each other so as to leave said carrier (13) on said firstsubstrate (31) and said non-tacky polymer layer (14) on said secondsubstrate (32) with a major surface of said non-tacky polymer layer (14)or said carrier (13) exposed, with the proviso that said non-tackypolymer layer (14) and carrier (13) are not co-extruded layers.

The adhesive tape of the present invention allows one substrate to bereleasably adhered to another substrate. When one of the substrates ispeeled from the other, the adhesive tape delaminates between the carrier13 and the non-tacky polymer layer 14 such that the surface on bothsubstrates is non-tacky. Moreover, both surfaces can be chosen such thatone or both of them are writable. This is particularly interesting incases where for example the insert is a mail back card that has to becompleted with information from the user. Further, the composition ofcarrier 13 and non-tacky polymer layer 14 can be varied widely and anyof carrier 13 or non-tacky polymer layer 14 can include components thatare thermo-sensitive and/or that might degrade at substantially elevatedtemperatures normally needed in an extrusion process. Also, the adhesivetape of the present invention has the advantage that the completeprocess of placing inserts in a multi-page printed publication can beautomated and the adhesive tape can be used by a conventional printerwithout the need for a specialized service.

In a particular embodiment of the present invention there is provided anadhesive tape (10,20) for laminating a first substrate (31) to a secondsubstrate (32), said adhesive tape comprising a carrier (13) having on afirst major surface a first adhesive layer (12) and having on a secondmajor surface opposite to said first major surface in the order given anon-tacky polymer layer (14) and a second adhesive layer (15), whereinthe following formula is satisfied:

A>C<B

wherein A is the force necessary to peel said first adhesive layer (12)from said carrier (13), B is the force necessary to peel said secondadhesive layer (15) from said non-tacky polymer layer (14), and C is thepeel force necessary to peel the non-tacky polymer layer (14) from saidcarrier (13) to expose a major surface of said non-tacky polymer layer(14) or said carrier (13), with the proviso that said non-tacky polymerlayer (14) and carrier (13) are not co-extruded layers. As explained inmore detail below, the peel force C can be adjusted by including adelamination control layer 17 between carrier 13 and the non-tackypolymer layer 14.

The present invention also provides a method for releasably adhering afirst substrate (31) to a second substrate (32) using an adhesive tapeas described above.

Further provided is a laminate comprising a first substrate (31)releasably adhered to a second substrate (32) by an adhesive tape(10,20) as described above.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing anadhesive tape (10,20).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by means of preferred embodiments shown inthe following drawings without the intention to limit the inventionthereto:

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a cross-section of an adhesive tape 10in connection with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a cross-section of an adhesive tape 20in connection with the present invention.

FIGS. 3a and 3 b are schematic drawings to illustrate the method ofpeeling substrate 31 from substrate 32.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of an adhesive tape in the form of a roll.

FIGS. 5a and 5 b are schematic drawings illustrating an embodiment forplacing an insert in a multi-page printed publication using an adhesivetape of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In connection with the present invention, the meaning of “non-tackypolymer layer” is used to indicate a polymer layer that is not tacky atambient conditions of humidity and temperature.

A first embodiment of the adhesive tape of the present invention isshown in FIG. 1. As can be seen, adhesive tape 10 comprises on one sideof carrier 13 a first adhesive layer 12 and on the other side of carrier13 a non-tacky polymer layer 14 and a second adhesive layer 15. Bothadhesive layers are covered by a release liner (11,16). According to anembodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the adhesive tape is provided as aroll wherein a release liner is provided between the adhesive layers 12and 15. The tape of the present invention can also be provided in theform of labels.

To adhere a first substrate 31 to a second substrate 32, the releaseliner 11 is removed and adhesive tape 10 is adhered to first substrate31. The release liner 16 is then removed and the first substrate 31 maythen be adhered to the second substrate 32 by second adhesive layer 15of adhesive tape 10. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the artthat it is also possible to first stick adhesive tape 10 to secondsubstrate 32 and then to first substrate 31. When the first substrate 31is subsequently peeled from the second substrate 32, delamination willoccur at the interface of carrier 13 and non-tacky polymer layer 14 (seeFIG. 3b). As a consequence non-tacky polymer layer 14 remains adheredvia second adhesive layer 15 to second substrate 32 and a major surfaceof non-tacky polymer layer 14 is exposed. Carrier 13 remains adhered tofirst substrate 31 by first adhesive layer 12.

The adhesive layers 12 and 15 of the adhesive tape of the presentinvention can be the same or different but are preferably the same. Theadhesive layers 12 and 15 may include any known adhesive thatpermanently adheres to substrate 31 or 32 respectively. Examples includepressure sensitive adhesives, heat activated adhesives, thermosettingtype adhesives and remoistenable adhesives. Particularly preferredadhesives include solution, water based and hot melt pressure sensitiveadhesives. Specific pressure sensitive adhesives include acrylic basedpressure sensitive adhesives, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, acrylicester-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers,plasticized vinyl acetate homopolymers, rubber-latex resin emulsionsystems. In the practice of preferred embodiments of the invention, theadhesive is an acrylic based adhesive.

Acrylic based adhesives are well-known in the art and are described inSatas, “Acrylic Adhesives,” Handbook of Pressure-Sensitive AdhesiveTechnology. 2nd ed., pp. 396-456 (D. Satas, ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold,New York (1989).

Suitable acrylic adhesives for use in this invention includecommercially available acrylic adhesives such as the polyacrylateadhesives sold under the trademarks Duro-Tak 80-1194, 80-1196, 80-1197,2287, 2516 and 2852 by National Starch and Chemical Corporation,Bridgewater, N.J. Other suitable acrylic adhesives are those sold underthe trademarks Gelva-Multipolymer Solution GMS 737, 788, 1151 and 1430(Monsanto; St. Louis, Mo.).

In this invention there can be used polyacrylate based adhesiveincluding any of the homopolymers, copolymers, terpolymers, and the likeof various (meth)acrylate esters.

Examples of polyacrylates for use in the invention include polymers ofone or more monomers of (meth)acrylic acids and other copolymerizablemonomers. The polyacrylates also include copolymers of acrylate and/ormethacrylate esters and/or copolymerizable monomers such as thosecontaining functional groups in addition to an ethylenically unsaturatedgroup. By varying the amount of each type of monomer added, the cohesiveproperties of the resulting polyacrylate can be changed as is known inthe art. A particularly preferred polyacrylate based pressure sensitiveadhesive includes an adhesive composition containing copolymers of anacrylic or methacrylic acid and an alkyl acrylate or methacrylatewherein the alkyl group has at least 4 carbon atoms, typically 4 to 10carbon atoms. Examples of such alkyl acrylates or methacrylates includen-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, isoheptyl. n-nonyl, n-decyl,isohexyl, isobornyl, 2-ethyloctyl, isooctyl, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylatesand methacrylates. Preferred alkyl acrylates include isooctyl acrylate,2-ethylhexyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate and cyclohexyl acrylate. Aparticularly preferred alkyl acrylate is isooctyl acrylate. Particularlypreferred alkyl methacrylates include butyl methacrylate, cyclohexylmethacrylate, and isobornyl methacrylate.

In accordance with a highly preferred embodiment in connection with thisinvention, the adhesive layers 12 and 15 comprise repulpable adhesive. Apreferred repulpable adhesive for use in this invention has a rating ofnot more than 3 in the European repulpability test described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,380,779. Examples of repulpable adhesive for use in theinvention include the repulpable adhesives disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.5.380,779, 4,413,080, 4,569,960, 4,482,675, 4,992,501, 4,388,432,5,102,733 and 5,125,995. The thickness of the adhesive layers 12 or 15can be varied widely but is typically between 1μm and 100μm andpreferably between 10μm and 40μm.

The carrier 13 can be any material commonly used for tapes and includespaper as well as plastic film. Examples of carriers include polyethylenefilm, polypropylene film, polyester film, polyethylene or polypropylenecoated paper, transparent paper such as the transparent paperscommercially available from Canson (France) and non-woven materials. Incase paper is used as the carrier 13, it is preferred to use a smoothpaper of low porosity. The thickness of carrier 13 is typically between30μm and 250μm and preferably between 40μm and 70μm.

Examples of polymers for use in the non-tacky polymer layer 14 of anadhesive tape of this invention include polyvinyl chlorides,polyvinylidene chlorides, polyvinyl alcohols such as Mowiol™ 4/88available from Clariant A.G., polyvinylacetates, polyvinyl pyrrolidonesand copolymers of vinylchloride and vinylacetate such as UCAR™ vinylVYES and UCAR™ vinyl VMCA both commercially available from UnionCarbide. The non-tacky polymer layer 14 may contain additives inaddition to the polymer. For example, the non-tacky polymer layer 14 mayadditionally contain wetting agents, thermo-sensitive compounds such asthermo-sensitive dyes, defoamers, plasticizers and fungicides. Aparticularly preferred non-tacky polymer layer 14 contains a repulpablepolymer such as polyvinylalcohol. A non-tacky polymer layer 14containing a polyvinylalcohol preferably also contains a plasticizer orcombination of plasticizers. Particularly preferred plasticizers for usein a polyvinyl alcohol based non-tacky polymer layer includes acombination of a polyol such as diethylene glycol and a hydroxy modifiedrubber such as Kraton™ L 1803 available from Shell. The thickness of thenon-tacky polymer layer 14 is preferably between 1μm and 40μm and morepreferably between 10μm and 15μm. According to a particular embodimentof the present invention, encapsulated fragrances can be included in thenon-tacky polymer layer 14. Details about encapsulated fragrance andtheir preparation can be found in an article entitled “Encapsulation offragrances” of Dr.

Howard J. Buttery, in Cosmetics and Toiletries Manufacture Worldwide.Encapsulated fragrances are also commercially available from 3M underthe brand 3M Dry Perfume. Including encapsulated fragrances can providean advantage in case the insert is a sample of a fragrance. Removingsuch a sample from the magazine page by a user will cause rupture of thecapsules containing the fragrance, thus releasing the fragrance so thatthe user immediately gets an impression of the perfume without having toopen the sample.

Furthermore, encapsulated fragrance may bring a pleasant dimension toadvertisement inserted in the magazine.

The release liners 11 and 16 can be selected from a number of known andavailable papers having a release material coated onto one side of thepaper web or on both sides in case of an adhesive tape in the form of aroll as shown in FIG. 4. The base paper of the release liner may beselected from krafts, super-calendered krafts, clay coated krafts,glassines, parchments, and other papers and films which have a suitableundercoating for release coating hold-out. The release coating may beany of the known materials used for their release properties foradhesives. Preferred types are silicones and modified silicones, themodification including both copolymerization of silicones with othernon-release chemical agents or by adding non-silicone materials to thesilicone coating solution prior to application to the release basepaper. Other release agents such as polyethylene, fluorocarbons, theWerner-type chromium complexes, and polyvinyl octadecyl carbamate mayalso be used. The choice of release coating is dependent on the tack,adhesion level, and chemical nature of the adhesive layer 12 or 15. Therelease liners 11 and 16 are chosen such that when they are removed fromthe adhesive tape no premature delamination takes place between thecarrier 13 and the non-tacky polymer layer 14.

Delamination at the interface between carrier 13 and non-tacky polymerlayer 14 is typically accomplished by designing the adhesive tape suchthat the following equation is satisfied:

A>C<B

wherein A is the force necessary to peel the first adhesive layer 12from the carrier 13. B is the force necessary to peel the secondadhesive layer 15 from the non-tacky polymer layer 14, and C is the peelforce necessary to peel the non-tacky polymer layer 14 from carrier 13to expose a major surface of the non-tacky polymer layer 14. If needed,the peel force C can be adjusted by including a delamination controllayer 17 between carrier 13 and non-tacky polymer layer 14.

The peel force will typically be between 0.1 N/cm and 0.25 N/cm whenmeasured under a peel angle of 90° and at a rate of 300 mm/min. The peelforces A and B typically have a value which is at least twice the valueof the peel force C and preferably at least 5 times and more preferablyat least 10 times the value of the peel force C.

Thus, in accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment inconnection with the present invention there is provided adhesive tape 20which includes a delamination control layer 17 between carrier 13 andnon-tacky polymer layer 14 as shown in FIG. 2. Delamination controllayer 17 is a layer that can be placed between the carrier 13 andnon-tacky polymer layer 14 to control the delamination of the adhesivetape. Thus, delamination control layer 17 can be chosen to adjust theforce necessary to cause delamination between carrier 13 and non-tackypolymer layer 14 relative to the force necessary to cause delaminationof the adhesive layers. Delamination control layer 17 can be chosen toeither increase or decrease the force necessary to cause delaminationbetween carrier 13 and non-tacky polymer layer 14. Delamination controllayer 17 is typically a layer that adheres stronger to carrier 13 thanit adheres to non-tacky polymer layer 14 and can be used to facilitatedelamination of the tape between carrier 13 and non-tacky polymer layer14. Delamination control layer 17 should also be non-tacky. Accordingly,as shown in FIG. 3a, the adhesive tape 20 will delaminate at theinterface between non-tacky polymer layer 14 and delamination controllayer 17.

A delamination control layer 17 for decreasing the delamination force,typically includes a release material such as silicone or fluorinecontaining material. Particularly suitable materials are siliconecontaining materials. By varying the amount of silicone in thedelamination control layer 17, the delamination force can be adjusted asdesired. A particularly desirable release material for delaminationcontrol layer 17 is an aqueous emulsion of silicone latex, availablefrom Rhone-Poulenc as Silicolease® emulsion system, further containing ahydrophilic binder such as hydroxyethyl cellulose. Still furthermaterials for use in delamination control layer 17 include the releasematerials described in EP-A0618509, U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,190 and U.S.Pat. No. 5,032,460. A delamination control layer 17 for decreasing thedelamination force (peel force C) is highly preferred in case carrier 13comprises paper.

The delamination force may also be adjusted by providing thedelamination control layer 17 discontinuous. For example, a siliconerelease material typically used to produce a release liner, may beapplied by flexographic printing to the carrier 13 such that only about90 to 95% of the carrier's surface is covered by the release material.As a result, the force to delaminate non-tacky layer 14 from the carrier13 will be low at places where the release material covers the surfaceof carrier 13 and will be high at places where the surface of carrier 13is not covered by the release material so that non-tacky layer 14 may bein contact with carrier 13 at such places. Since the force necessary tocause delamination between carrier 13 and non-tacky polymer layer 14 isthe average of the force at a place where release material covers thesurface of carrier 13 and where it does not cover the surface of carrier13, the delamination force can be adjusted by varying the amount ofsurface of carrier 13 covered by the release material of delaminationcontrol layer 17. According to a still further embodiment of the presentinvention, a polyurethane layer can be used as the delamination controllayer 17. The latter offers the advantage that after delamination, thesurface of carrier 13 containing the delamination control layer 17 willbe writable.

In case the carrier is of plastic, it may be desirable to increase theforce necessary to cause delamination between carrier 13 and non-tackypolymer layer 14 by means of delamination control layer 17 because inthat case, the delamination force may be so small that delaminationcould occur during handling. Alternatively, the surface of carrier 13may be given a corona treatment to increase the delamination force.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, it is highlypreferred that the adhesive tape 10,20 is transparent. Therefore, it ispreferred to use a transparent carrier 13, such as a plastic film ortransparent paper, and transparent layers 12, 14, 15 and 17. It willfurther be appreciated by one skilled in the art, that the adhesive tapeof the invention can contain additional layers than those describedabove such as primer-layers provided on one or both sides of thecarrier. According to a particular preferred embodiment, adhesive tape10,20 is repulpable. A repulpable adhesive tape 10,20 can be obtained byselecting a repulpable carrier such as paper and by selecting repulpablecompositions for the adhesive layers (12,15), non-tacky polymer layer 14and delamination control layer 17 when present.

In accordance with this invention, a method of manufacturing an adhesivetape (10,20) for releasably adhering a first substrate (31) to a secondsubstrate (32) comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a carrier (13);

(b) applying a non-tacky polymer layer (14) to a first major surface ofsaid carrier (13);

(c) applying an adhesive layer (15) to said non-tacky polymer layer and

(d) applying an adhesive layer (12) to a second major surface of saidcarrier (13) opposite to said first major surface of said carrier (13),

wherein said step (b) is carried out subsequent to step (a) and saidadhesive tape (10,20) is capable of delamination between said carrier(13) and said non-tacky polymer layer (14) when said first (31) andsecond substrate (32) are peeled away from each other so as to leavesaid carrier (13) on said first substrate (31) and said non-tackypolymer layer (14) on said second substrate (32) with a major surface ofsaid non-tacky polymer layer (14) or carrier (13) exposed.

The above method may further comprise the step of applying adelamination control layer 17 to carrier 13 if such layer is desirable.Preferably, non-tacky polymer layer 14 and optional delamination controllayer 17 are applied from a coating solution comprising the componentsof the layer dissolved or dispersed in a solvent. The solvent can be anorganic solvent or water or mixtures of water and an organic solvent.The adhesive layers can be applied by any known adhesive coatingtechnique or they can be applied by lamination.

For example the adhesive tape 20 including paper, e.g. transparentpaper, as carrier 13 may be coated on the first major surface with adelamination control layer 17. Such coating may be applied by well knowncoating techniques such as die coating or gravure coating. The secondmajor surface of the paper may be coated with a primer layer. On thedelamination control layer 17 is then coated the non-tacky polymer layer14. This may for example be accomplished by hopper coating or any othercoating technique known in the art. The second major surface of thepaper, which has optionally been provided with a primer layer, is coatedwith the adhesive layer 12 and a release liner 11 is then provided onthe adhesive layer 12. Alternatively, a release liner 11 provided withadhesive layer 12 may be laminated to the second major surface of thepaper. Finally, a liner 16 provided with adhesive layer 15 is laminatedto the non-tacky layer 14 to produce an adhesive tape 20.

According to a further embodiment, adhesive tape 20 may be produced bycoating a first major surface of carrier 13, for example paper, with adelamination control layer 17 and non-tacky polymer layer 14 asdescribed above. Liner 11 coated with adhesive 12 may then be laminatedto the non-tacky polymer layer 14. The second major surface of carrier13 can be coated with adhesive layer 15 and the adhesive tape thusproduced can be wound such that the release liner forms the outercircumference of the roll as shown in FIG. 4. As an alternative to thismethod of producing a roll of adhesive tape, the adhesive layer 15 mayalso be applied by lamination.

The adhesive tape of the present invention can be used to releasablyadhere any of two substrates to one another. Examples of substrates 31and 32 include paper, cardboard, plastic film, textile, metal and glass.The present invention is however particularly suitable for adheringinserts to a page of a multi-page printed publications. Examples ofinserts include mail back cards, plastic cards and product samples suchas samples of perfume packaged in plastic or aluminized bag.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment for automatically placing inserts in anewspaper, magazine or other multi-page printed publication. As shown inFIG. 5a, the pages 103 of a multi-page printed publication aretransported in an overlapping configuration by a conveyor 100. By meansof for example a label applicator 101, adhesive tape 10 in the form of alabel may be applied to a desired page 105 and release liners 11 and/or16 are removed from adhesive tape 10 such that the adhesive tape isadhered to desired page 105 by adhesive layer 12 or 15 and the otheradhesive layer is exposed. The conveyor is transported in the directionof the arrow shown in FIG. 6a so that desired page 105 is transportedunder insert applicator 102. Once desired page 105 is properlypositioned with adhesive tape 10 under the insert applicator 102, thelatter applies the insert (see FIG. 5b) which is thereby adhered viaadhesive layer 15 or 12 respectively to the desired page 105. Properpositioning may either be detected or may be accomplished bysynchronisation of 20 the speed of the conveyor with the speed ofapplication of inserts from applicator 102. The pages of the multi-pageprinted publication, including desired page 105 with the insert thereon,may then be further transported and further processed to form themulti-page printed publication.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided to illustrate the invention in moredetail without however limiting the invention thereto. In the examplesall parts, ratios, percentages are by weight unless otherwise noted.

Example 1

The following coating solutions were prepared:

Coating solution for the delamination control layer (coating solution1-A) 33 parts of polyvinylalcohol modified with 67 parts of octadecylisocyanate were dissolved in toluene in an amount of 6.7%.

Coating solution for the non-tacky polymer layer (coating solution 1-B)

An aqueous solution containing the following components was prepared:

Polyvinylalcohol (Mowiol ™ 4-88, available from Clariant) 94.5%diethylene glycol   5% p-hydroxymethylbenzoate  0.3%p-hydroxypropylbenzoate  0.1% Surfynol ™ 336 (available from AirProducts)  0.1%

Coating solution for the adhesive layers (coating solution 1-C) A 40%solids solution in a 1:1 mixture of ethylacetate and methanol wasprepared containing 100 parts of acrylic copolymer of butylacrylate andacrylic acid (75/25), 75 parts of a hydrogenated rosin acid tackifier,70 parts of mono-fenyl ether of tetraethylene glycol as a plasticizerand 65 parts of N-methyldiethanolamine as a neutralizing agent.

Preparation of the adhesive tape:

Silcote 6625 paper (57 g m²) available from Ahlstrom Paper Group wasused as the carrier 13. Silcote 6625 is a smooth paper that has beenprovided on one side (hereinafter A-side) with a barrier coatingcontaining a latex polymer, silicates and starch. The opposite side ofthe paper was uncoated (B-side)

The A-side of the paper was coated with coating solution 1-A using Meyerbar coating with a 35μm wire and parallel bar speed. The coating wasdried and the obtained dry coating thickness was about 2-3μm.

To this layer was then coated the coating solution 1-B using a nip feedcoater with a feed gap of 40μm. The coating was dried at an elevatedtemperature and the obtained dry coating thickness was about 8-13μm. Acoated paper sample A was thus obtained.

Separately, there was coated the coating solution 1-C to a siliconizedrelease liner using nip feed coating with a 100μm gap. After drying, acoating thickness of about 35μm was obtained.

Thus obtained adhesive coated release liner was laminated with theadhesive layer on the coated side (side A) of the coated paper sample A.At the opposite side of the paper sample (side B), was provided anadhesive layer by transferring the adhesive layer from the aboveprepared adhesive coated release liner to the paper. A thus obtainedadhesive tape was wound to a roll as shown in FIG. 4.

A piece of a thus prepared adhesive tape was adhered with the adhesivelayer on the B-side of the paper on a magazine page. The release lineron side A of the paper was then removed and a cardboard was adhered withthe exposed adhesive layer to the magazine page. The cardboard did notrelease from the magazine page during normal handling of the magazineand could be removed easily by rapidly peeling the cardboard. No damageto the magazine page occurred and both the page and cardboard werenon-tacky.

Example 2

To a transparent paper available from Canson (70 g/m²) was coated apolyurethane release coat obtained from Ichemco (Italy) to a wet coatingthickness of 40μm using a doctor blade. After drying, a thickness ofabout 5μm was obtained. To this polyurethane coating was then coatedcoating solution 1-B (described in example 1) at a wet coating thicknessof 40μm using a doctor blade. After drying, a thickness of about 8-11μmwas obtained. To this coating was then provided an adhesive coatingsolution of 25% solids containing a copolymer of iso-octylacrylate andacrylic acid (95/5) tackified with 10% of a rosin ester (Foral™ 85,available from Hercules) relative to the copolymer. The adhesive coatingwas coated by a doctor blade at a wet coating thickness of 100μm. Thesame adhesive coating was also coated to the other side of thetransparent paper at a wet coating thickness of 100μm and both adhesivelayers were protected with a release liner.

The thus obtained adhesive tape could be used to adhere a cardboard to amagazine page. By rapid peeling the cardboard could be removed from themagazine page without causing damage thereto and both the magazine pageand cardboard surfaces were non-tacky.

Examples 3 to 10

These examples illustrate that the delamination between the carrier andthe non-tacky polymer layer can be varied by modifying the chemicalcomposition of the delamination control layer.

A paper (ADERCOTE™ Gerfast 80 g/m² available from Ahlstrom Paper Group)coated on one side with a latex polymer (A-side) and uncoated on theother side (B-side) was provided. Samples 3 to 11 were prepared bycoating to the A-side of the paper a silicone release coating as shownin table 1 using doctor blade coating without a shim. A very thincoating was thus obtained. To this silicone release coating were thencoated the coating solution 1-B of example 1 at a dry thickness of8-12μm and the adhesive coating solution 1-C of example 1 at a drythickness of 38-45μm. The adhesive layer was protected with a releaseliner. At the opposite side (B-side) of the paper was coated with theadhesive coating solution 1-C at a dry thickness of 38-45μm and theadhesive layer was also protected with a release liner.

Example no¹ Comp.² 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 A700 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 718220.16 0.32 0.48 0.64 0.8 0.96 1.12 1.28 71823 0.016 0.032 0.048 0.0640.08 0.096 0.112 0.128 71806 0.0064 0.0128 0.0192 0.0256 0.032 0.03840.0448 0.0512 notes: ¹the amounts of the components of the coatingsolution is in grams. ²A700 is a solution of a silicone latex in water(40% solids) (Silicolease ™ A700 available from Rhône-Poulenc); 71822 isa solution of a silicone polymer in water (41.5% solids) (Silicolease ™71822 available from Rhône-Poulenc); 71823 is a solution of a catalystin water (40.9% solids) (Silicolease ™ 71823 available fromRhône-Poulenc) and 71806 is a solution of crosslinker in water (57%solids) (Silicolease ™ 71806 # available from Rhône-Poulenc).

Each of the adhesive tapes 3 to 10 obtained was used to adhere acardboard to a magazine page. It was observed that with the adhesivetapes of examples 3 to 5, damage to the magazine page sometimes occurredwhen removing the cardboard and with the adhesive tapes of examples 8 to10, the cardboard sometimes released from the magazine page uponhandling. Examples 6 and 7 provided the best results.

Example 11

On a polyester film having a thickness of 70μm was coated the coatingsolution 1-B of example 1 using doctor blade coating to a wet thicknessof 30μm. To this coating and to the opposite side of the polyester filmwas then provided the adhesive coating described in example 2 to a wetcoating thickness of about 70μm using a doctor blade. Both adhesivelayers were protected by a liner.

The thus obtained adhesive tape could be used to releasably adhere anarticle to a magazine page.

Example 12

An adhesive tape was prepared as in example 11 but with the exceptionthat instead of the coating solution 1-B, a 30% solution in methylethylketone of a copolymer vinylchloride and vinylacetate (UCAR™ vinyl VYESavailable from Union Carbide) was used. The thus obtained adhesive tapecould be used to releasably adhere an article to a magazine page.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adhesive tape for laminating a first substrateto a second substrate, said adhesive tape comprising: a carrier; a firstadhesive layer on a first major surface of the carrier; asolution-coated, non-tacky polymer layer on a second major surface ofthe carrier, wherein said non-tacky polymer layer comprises a polymerselected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylchlorides, polyvinylidene chlorides, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinylpyrrolidones, and copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride; asecond adhesive layer on a major surface of the non-tacky polymer layeropposite the carrier; and at least one release liner on the firstadhesive layer, the second adhesive layer, or both the first and secondadhesive layers; wherein said adhesive tape satisfies the followingformula: A>C<B wherein A is the force necessary to peel said firstadhesive layer from said carrier, B is the force necessary to peel saidsecond adhesive layer from said non-tacky polymer layer, and C is thepeel force necessary to peel the non-tacky polymer layer from saidcarrier.
 2. An adhesive tape according to claim 1 wherein a firstrelease liner is provided on said first adhesive layer and a secondrelease liner is provided on said second adhesive layer.
 3. An adhesivetape according to claim 1 wherein said adhesive tape is in the form of aroll and a single release liner is provided between said first andsecond adhesive layers.
 4. An adhesive tape according to claim 1 whereinsaid carrier is a plastic film or paper.
 5. An adhesive tape accordingto claim 1 wherein said adhesive tape is transparent.
 6. An adhesivetape according to claim 1 wherein said carrier is paper and saidadhesive tape is repulpable.
 7. An adhesive tape according to claim 1wherein said carrier is paper.
 8. An adhesive tape according to claim 1wherein the adhesive tape contains a delamination control layer, andsaid delamination control layer is a polyurethane layer.
 9. An adhesivetape according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive tape contains adelamination control layer, and said delamination control layer isdiscontinuous.
 10. An adhesive tape according to claim 1 wherein thenon-tacky polymer layer contains thermo-sensitive orextrusion-degradable materials.
 11. An adhesive tape according to claim1 wherein the non-tacky polymer layer contains encapsulated fragrances.12. An adhesive tape according to claim 1 wherein at least one of thecarrier and the non-tacky polymer layer is writable.
 13. An adhesivetape according to claim 1 wherein both the carrier and the non-tackypolymer layer are writable.
 14. A roll of adhesive tape, wherein theroll comprises the adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein theadhesive tape contains a single release liner separating the first andsecond adhesive layers.
 15. An adhesive tape according to claim 1wherein a delamination control layer is provided between said carrierand said non-tacky polymer layer.
 16. An adhesive tape according toclaim 15 wherein said delamination control layer comprises apolysiloxane or a fluorinated polymer.
 17. An adhesive tape forlaminating a first substrate to a second substrate, said adhesive tapecomprising: a carrier; a first adhesive layer on a first major surfaceof the carrier; a solution coated, non-tacky polymer layer on a secondmajor surface of the carrier, wherein the non-tacky polymer layerconsists of (i) a polymer selected from the group consisting ofpolyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol,polyvinylacetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and copolymers of vinylchlorideand vinylacetate; and (ii) optional additives selected from the groupconsisting of a wetting agent, a thermo-sensitive dye, a defoamer, aplasticizer, a fungicide, diethylene glycol, a hydroxy modified rubber,an encapsulated fragrance, or a combination thereof; a second adhesivelayer on a major surface of the non-tacky polymer layer opposite thecarrier; and at least one release liner on the first adhesive layer, thesecond adhesive layer, or both the first and second adhesive layers;wherein the adhesive tape satisfies the following formula: A>C<B whereinA is the force necessary to peel said first adhesive layer from saidcarrier, B is the force necessary to peel said second adhesive layerfrom said non-tacky polymer layer, and C is the peel force necessary topeel the non-tacky polymer layer from said carrier.
 18. An adhesive tapeaccording to claim 17 wherein the non-tacky polymer layer containsencapsulated fragrances.
 19. An adhesive tape according to claim 17wherein at least one of the carrier and the non-tacky polymer layer iswritable.
 20. An adhesive tape according to claim 17 wherein both thecarrier and the non-tacky polymer layer are writable.
 21. An adhesivetape according to claim 17 wherein said carrier is paper; the non-tackypolymer layer comprises repulpable polyvinyl alcohol; and the first andsecond adhesive layers comprise repulpable adhesive.
 22. An adhesivetape according to claim 17 further comprising a delamination controllayer positioned between the carrier and the non-tacky polymer layer andadhered to the carrier.
 23. An adhesive tape according to claim 22wherein the delamination control layer is a polyurethane layer.
 24. Anadhesive tape according to claim 22 wherein the delamination controllayer is discontinuous.
 25. An adhesive tape according to claim 17wherein said carrier is paper.
 26. An adhesive tape according to claim25 wherein the non-tacky polymer layer consists of (i) repulpablepolyvinyl alcohol; and (ii) optional additives selected from the groupconsisting of a wetting agent, a thermo-sensitive dye, a defoamer, aplasticizer, a fungicide, diethylene glycol, a hydroxy modified rubber,an encapsulated fragrance, or a combination thereof.
 27. A roll ofadhesive tape consisting of: a carrier; a first adhesive layer on afirst major surface of the carrier; a solution-coated, non-tacky polymerlayer on a second major surface of the carrier; a second adhesive layeron a major surface of the non-tacky polymer layer opposite the carrier;an optional delamination control layer positioned between the carrierand the non-tacky polymer layer; and a single release liner separatingthe first adhesive layer from the second adhesive layer; wherein saidroll of adhesive tape satisfies the following formula: A>C<B wherein Ais the force necessary to peel said first adhesive layer from saidcarrier, B is the force necessary to peel said second adhesive layerfrom said non-tacky polymer layer, and C is the peel force necessary topeel the non-tacky polymer layer from said carrier.
 28. A roll ofadhesive tape according to claim 27 wherein the non-tacky polymer layerconsists of (i) a polymer selected from the group consisting ofpolyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol,polyvinylacetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and copolymers of vinylchlorideand vinylacetate; and (ii) optional additives selected from the groupconsisting of a wetting agent, a thermo-sensitive dye, a defoamer, aplasticizer, a fungicide, diethylene glycol, a hydroxy modified rubber,an encapsulated fragrance, or a combination thereof.
 29. An adhesivetape for laminating a first substrate to a second substrate, saidadhesive tape consisting of: a carrier; a first adhesive layer on afirst major surface of the carrier; a solution-coated, non-tacky polymerlayer on a second major surface of the carrier; a second adhesive layeron a major surface of the non-tacky polymer layer opposite the carrier;an optional delamination control layer positioned between the carrierand the solution-coated, non-tacky polymer layer; and at least onerelease liner on the first adhesive layer, the second adhesive layer, orboth the first and second adhesive layers; wherein said adhesive tapesatisfies the following formula: A>C<B wherein A is the force necessaryto peel said first adhesive layer from said carrier, B is the forcenecessary to peel said second adhesive layer from said non-tacky polymerlayer, and C is the peel force necessary to peel the non-tacky polymerlayer from said carrier.
 30. An adhesive tape according to claim 29wherein the non-tacky polymer layer comprises a polymer selected fromthe group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl chlorides,polyvinylidene chlorides, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl pyrrolidones,and copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride.
 31. An adhesive tapeaccording to claim 29 wherein the non-tacky polymer layer consists of(i) a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride,polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and copolymers of vinylchloride and vinylacetate; and (ii)optional additives selected from the group consisting of a wettingagent, a thermo-sensitive dye, a defoamer, a plasticizer, a fungicide,diethylene glycol, a hydroxy modified rubber, an encapsulated fragrance,or a combination thereof.
 32. A method of manufacturing an adhesive tapefor releasably adhering a first substrate to a second substratecomprising the steps of: (a) providing a carrier; (b) solution coating anon-tacky polymer layer onto a first major surface of said carrier; (c)applying an adhesive layer to said non-tacky polymer layer and (d)applying an adhesive layer to a second major surface of said carrieropposite to said first major surface of said carrier, wherein said step(b) is carried out subsequent to step (a) and said adhesive tapesatisfies the following formula: A>C<B wherein A is the force necessaryto peel said adhesive layer from said carrier, B is the force necessaryto peel said adhesive layer from said non-tacky polymer layer, and C isthe peel force necessary to peel the non-tacky polymer layer from saidcarrier.
 33. A method according to claim 32 wherein said method furthercomprises the step of applying on said carrier a delamination controllayer.
 34. A method according to claim 32 wherein the step of solutioncoating comprises: applying onto the first major surface of said carriera non-tacky polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylalcohols, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinylidene chlorides, polyvinylacetates, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, and copolymers of vinyl acetate andvinyl chloride.
 35. A method according to claim 32 wherein the step ofsolution coating comprises: applying onto the first major surface ofsaid carrier a solution consisting of: (i) a polymer selected from thegroup consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride,polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylacetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, andcopolymers of vinylchloride and vinylacetate; and (ii) optionaladditives selected from the group consisting of a wetting agent, athermo-sensitive dye, a defoamer, a plasticizer, a fungicide, diethyleneglycol, a hydroxy modified rubber, an encapsulated fragrance, or acombination thereof.